NTPFES annual report reveals two-fifths of Territorians feel unsafe at night, a 10-year-low in police confidence

Territorians are the most scared they have ever been, as satisfaction rates in police plummet amid a shortfall of staffing.

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said he intended to expand the presence of Aboriginal language translators in emergency call centres to improve call times.

Territorians’s confidence in their cops has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, with two-fifths of the population feeling unsafe at night.

The 2022-23 NT Police Fire and Emergency Services annual report has revealed perceptions of safety, confidence in police and their professionalism have all reached record lows.

National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing found only 60 per cent of Territorians reported feeling safe at night, below the target of 80 per cent.

Only 61 per cent of Territorians said they were “satisfied in general” with police services, while a quarter did not agree police acted “professionally” in their jobs.

Police Minister Kate Worden said Territory cops faced an “incredibly tough job in what can be at times extremely trying and difficult circumstances”.

Police Minister Kate Worden said Territory cops faced an “incredibly tough job in what can be at times extremely trying and difficult circumstances”. Photo by PEMA TAMANG PAKHRIN

It comes as emergency call wait times continue to lag behind national standards, with 24 per cent of triple-0 calls ringing out for more than 10 seconds.

Of the 199,823 calls made to Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre, 76 per cent were answered within target — below the 90 per cent goal.

Police said the growing wait times were due to an additional 23,000 calls compared to the previous financial year, with the call centre handing more than 1000 a day.

Northern Territory Police Association President Nathan Finn said the fall in police satisfaction was directly related to struggling response times, both on the phone and in the field.

“That’s not surprising, given the Senior Police Executive has acknowledged the agency’s biggest issue is maintaining the frontline response,” Mr Finn said.

“We simply don’t have enough police to meet the current demand.”

Mr Finn said the union estimated the Territory needed 200 additional officers “just to cope with core business and demand from the public”, including additional resources to the triple-0 centre to manage the “unsustainable” call volumes.

Northern Territory Police Association President Nathan Finn said the fall in police satisfaction was directly related to struggling response times, both on the phone and in the field. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The annual report found there was an average of 31,500 calls a month, which Mr Finn said was more than double the rate from 10 years ago.

“Yet resourcing has barely changed,“ he said.

Ms Worden said a review of police resources would assess the capability of the force, including staffing structures for auxiliaries at JESCC.

“We know the demands on our police have changed, which is evident in the increased number of calls to our JESCC, in the past decade,” she said.

“The review will tell us how our frontline officers can be better supported.”

The report found police attrition rates had improved, but was still high at 9 per cent.

Ms Worden said the latest attrition figures represented a “cultural shift” within police, with a greater focus on wellbeing and workplace culture.

NT Police were contacted for comment.